Don't go to work if you're sick, reminds Waterloo region's top public health official

As we enter the cold and flu season, Waterloo region's top public health official is reminding people to stay home if they have symptoms of COVID-19.

"Do not go to work, do not visit with your friends," said Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the region's acting medical officer of health. "We're seeing a relaxation with respect to adhering to this advice."

Dr. Wang said hotspots like Toronto, Ottawa and Peel Region should be treated like a warning.

"Sometimes people say, 'well it's not that bad yet [in Waterloo region]', but the thing is we don't want to get that bad. Because once it gets that bad, it's more out of control. And when it's more out of control, it will have a greater chance of escalating even further," she said.

Dr. Wang said hospitalization rates in Waterloo region are low, but there's a higher percentage of positive cases among tests that are being carried out.

"We're seeing an increasing trend since the beginning of September," she said.

It's when a region is starting to see an increasing trend that changes are needed, said Wang, and the most important measures right now are the ones people can take personally.

"How big, how steep our curve becomes in our region is largely dependent on how we all practice those health precautions."